Man City's Gianluigi Donnarumma reveals true feelings on Luis Enrique after being pushed out of PSG

Gianluigi Donnarumma has opened up on former manager Luis Enrique after being forced out of Paris Saint-Germain before joining Manchester City.

  • Donnarumma moved to City on deadline day
  • Enrique spoke publicly against the Italian
  • City shot-stopper spoke while away on international duty
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Speaking to the media at a press conference while away with the Italy national team, Donnarumma covered a variety of subjects, as reported by . A major talking point was when the 26-year-old was asked about his relationship with PSG manager Luis Enrique, who caused controversy when replacing his Champions League-winning goalkeeper with Lucas Chevalier over the summer, forcing Donnarumma out of the door and to the Premier League.

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    Luis Enrique stuck by his decision to leave Donnarumma out of the squad for the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur last month, saying he was "100% responsible" for the decision and he needed a "different type of goalkeeper". Despite playing a leading role as PSG became European champions for the first time in their history just months prior, Donnarumma was faced with the exit door and ultimately completed a deadline day move to Manchester City for £26 million ($35m).

  • WHAT DONNARUMMA SAID

    Donnarumma said: "I have always had a great relationship with the coach. He was direct with me, from the first days of retreat. Disappointed I don't know, everyone makes their own choices. The coach has the power to decide, but having the support of everyone – especially my teammates – made me understand what I had given to PSG and I think this is the most important thing. Because beyond football what remains is this, knowing the affection of the whole environment, of my teammates, made me proud of what I left behind."

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    WHAT NEXT FOR DONNARUMMA?

    Donnarumma will no doubt be a key talking point over the international break as his Italy side face Estonia and Israel in World Cup qualification. We will, soon enough, get to see Donnarumma make his Premier League debut for City – potentially against Manchester United, with whom he has also been linked this summer – and it will be intriguing viewing to see how he adapts to his new surroundings, following what was no doubt a turbulent summer on a personal level.

Em busca de selo de time formador, clube-empresa de São Paulo projeta melhorias para valorizar estrutura

MatériaMais Notícias

O clube-empresa Referência FC vem buscando, com sucesso, seu espaço no futebol de base do Brasil. Com metas batidas em 2022, o clube segue trilhando um caminho promissor. Na temporada passada, o Referência conquistou resultados de impacto nos torneios sub-15 e sub-17. No sub-13, garantiu uma vaga inédita nas quartas de final do Paulistão da categoria

Agora, buscando ter um time ainda mais competitivo para 2023 para estar entre os melhores e até mesmo brigar por títulos, o clube-empresa tem outro grande objetivo: obter o selo de time formador junto à CBF, permitindo o registro de contratos de formação com atletas de 14 até 20 anos. Isso assegura o direito de assinar o primeiro contrato como atleta profissional, além de preferência na renovação.

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O objetivo é impactar diretamente em melhorias internas, que vão desde investimento no CT do Referência, atualmente localizado no bairro do Jaguaré, zona oeste de São Paulo, até implantação de processos em departamentos específicos.

– Vamos investir em um centro de treinamento que possa atender ainda mais as necessidades diárias dos atletas e dos membros das comissões técnicas- revela Walter Júnior, presidente do Referência, que garante a ousadameta prevista de colocar o clube para participar da Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior em 2024.

– Esta decisão também tem um impacto direto nas melhorias que estamos fazendo para este ano.Introduzimos as categorias pares, ou seja, sub-10, sub-12 e sub-14, que apenas grandes clubes têm hoje em dia, sendo assim, subimos mais uma prateleira no futebol de base – explica Walter.

Conquista do estadual coroou Kannemann como argentino mais vencedor no futebol gaúcho

MatériaMais Notícias

Além da importância coletiva em relação ao hexacampeonato do Gauchão para o Grêmio, o título no último fim de semana obtido contra o Caxias teve uma relevância especial para a trajetória do zagueiro Kannemann.

Isso porque esse foi o 13° troféu obtido pelo defensor argentino com a camisa do Tricolor, o colocando como o atleta portenho com o maior número de conquistas na história do futebol gaúcho.

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>Com nomes do feminino e do masculino, Grêmio lança seu novo uniforme

Desta forma, o jogador de 32 anos de idade que chegou ainda em 2016 ao Imortal ultrapassou figura bastante identificada com o rival Internacional, Andrés D’Alessandro, até então o líder desse quesito com 12 conquistas.

Em meio aos 246 partidas com cinco tentos e duas assistências, Wálter Kannemann já teve a oportunidade de dar a volta olímpica, além das seis edições recentes do Gauchão, por conta das seguintes taças: quatro edições da Recopa Gaúcha além de Copa do Brasil, Libertadores e Recopa Sul-Americana.

Tendo sequência importante em 2023 após longa recuperação de problema físico na última temporada, o jogador deve, mais uma vez, estar em campo nesta quinta-feira (13) onde enfrentará o ABC. A partida vale pela ida da terceira fase da Copa do Brasil.

Lancashire announce Daryl Mitchell, Colin de Grandhomme as overseas signings

Lancashire have signed New Zealand pair Daryl Mitchell and Colin de Grandhomme on contracts that will cover the the Vitality T20 Blast and the start of the LV= Insurance County Championship.In a sign of the changing landscape for overseas players in the county game, Mitchell and de Grandhomme will join the squad alongside Dane Vilas, the club’s long-serving South African batter, who stood down last week as club captain but will continue to play for Lancashire this season.With only two overseas players permitted in the XI, Mark Chilton, Lancashire’s director of cricket performance, said having the trio available would “provide us with plenty of options for different matches and scenarios”.De Grandhomme, who has previously represented Hampshire, Surrey and Birmingham Bears, will link up with the club for the start of the summer, potentially playing in four Championship matches before the arrival of Mitchell ahead of the Somerset game on May 11. Both allrounders will be involved in the Blast, with Mitchell available for Championship fixtures against Hampshire, Surrey and Essex and de Grandhomme also providing cover during June and July.Related

  • Keaton Jennings named Lancashire club captain

  • Colin Munro joins Notts Outlaws for 2023 Blast

  • Surrey bring in Sean Abbott for Championship and Blast

“We are really excited to add both Daryl and Colin to our squad and to be able to do so for such a large portion of the 2023 season – which was a key factor for us when looking to make overseas additions this year,” Chilton said.”The schedule, as it has been for the last few years, continues to be really challenging particularly in the middle part of the summer throughout May, June and July, due to the amount of cricket we’re playing in a short period. With that in mind, we want to ensure we’ve got enough strength in depth to cover for all eventualities and Daryl and Colin provide us with exactly that.”It has been a tricky process to try and add the right overseas players to our squad – in terms of both availability and quality – but I think we have found the perfect fit with two experienced international cricketers, who will bring quality to our changing room.”Colin will be with us from the very start against Surrey in the County Championship before Daryl joins up in mid-May, the pair will then both be available throughout our Vitality Blast campaign and, alongside Dane Vilas, provide us with plenty of options for different matches and scenarios.”Mitchell, who played for Middlesex in 2021 and was Blackpool CC’s professional in 2016, was New Zealand’s Player of the Series during last summer’s tour of England, when he scored 538 runs at 107.60.”I am delighted to be joining Lancashire this English summer,” he said. “The county has a proud history and having lived in Manchester as a child for a couple of years – it’s special to return in this way.”I had a taste of the Vitality Blast and County Championship with Middlesex in 2021 and I am really looking forward to trying to make contributions in both competitions for Lancashire this summer. The chance to test my skills again in two strong competitions is exciting as a player.”I really enjoy playing in English conditions and the special history of the game around the country. I have very fond memories of my two tours to England with New Zealand and hope to build more with Lancashire. It will also be great to link up with my old Blackpool team-mates Steven Croft and Richard Gleeson having played there for a summer in 2016.”De Grandhomme retired from international cricket last year and has a wealth of experience in T20 competitions around the world, playing in the BBL, IPL and CPL, as well as the Hundred in England.De Grandhomme added: “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity of playing for Lancashire this season. I’ve loved playing county cricket previously and I can’t wait to get to England in April to kick off the season with the Red Rose.”Lancashire has an exciting squad who have been so close to silverware in the last couple of years, hopefully I can help to add some experience to the dressing room so that we can go one step further this season.”Emirates Old Trafford is a world-class venue, one which I have played at before in New Zealand colours and I can’t wait to pull on a Lancashire shirt in front of the club’s members and supporters.”

With or without Khawaja, Australia face a 'big challenge' to save the series

They have held their tour together impressively but the last day promises to be a final challenge, potentially without one of their best batters

Andrew McGlashan12-Mar-20232:29

Did Australia miss a trick or two with their bowling on Day 4?

Usman Khawaja will be assessed ahead of the final day’s play in Ahmedabad to determine how much of a role he is able to play after suffering an injury to his left leg with Australia facing a fight to save the game.Khawaja appeared to jar his left knee attempting to take a boundary catch offered by Axar Patel at the start of the 148th over with the problem described as a lower leg issue that would continue to be evaluated. He hobbled back around the boundary to the dressing room and did not reappear.He was unable to open in the second innings due to the time spent off the field with Matt Kuhnemann handed the unexpected elevation as a nightwatcher. He successfully negotiated the day alongside Travis Head although was dropped by KS Bharat off R Ashwin’s last delivery.Related

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Kohli 186, Axar 79 give India a chance to push for a win

Regardless of how well Khawaja pulls up overnight it appears likely he will be impeded in some way should he be able to bat and runners are no longer allowed in international cricket. He made a superb 180 in the first innings and has been Australia’s standout batter in the series with 333 runs at 47.57.In 2014, Khawaja had to undergo reconstructive surgery on his left knee after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament and in 2018 suffered a meniscal tear when he twisted the same knee during a warm-up fielding drill during Australia’s Test series against Pakistan in the UAE. However, as of the close of play in Ahmedabad this injury was not specifically being related to his knee.With or without Khawaja, Australia will need to dig deep after two long days in the field where centuries from Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli, alongside another valuable hand from Axar, built India a 91-run lead.”It is going to be a big challenge obviously,” Alex Carey said. “We will put a fair bit of focus on that first hour of cricket and then we’ll see how that unfolds. Thought we did really well today minimise the lead.”After a number of years where Test cricket in India has generally been dominated by pitches in favour of the spinners, this match has reverted to another style: where a visiting team finds a large first-innings total isn’t big enough. There are similarities to the 2016-17 Test in Ranchi where Australia made 451 only for that to be dwarfed by India’s 603 which left them with a final-day battle for survival. They were able to achieve it through Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb.”We wanted to score more than 480,” Carey admitted. “Think the tail did a great job in finding us an extra 80-100 runs. Cameron Green’s innings was great and he’ll want to go bigger next time. Think anytime you post a decent score you put a bit of pressure back in the [opposition] changing room to then go big and some class players for India did that.”The Australians found some reasons to smile in the last session after a hot day in the middle•BCCI

In that Ranchi Test six years ago, Steve O’Keefe sent down 77 overs – the sixth-most in terms of balls bowled for an Australian spinner. This time it was the turn of Nathan Lyon to clock up the huge numbers as he hit 65, his most for a Test innings, narrowly overtaking the 64 he sent down in Galle last year. Both he and Todd Murphy, who continued to show outstanding control in his debut series, were never taken apart by India’s batters.It was another tough day for Australia’s quicks with Mitchell Starc picking up their lone success when he speared one through Axar. Starc was used sparingly by Smith for just five overs on the fourth day. Cameron Green was expensive, getting taken for 21 off an over shortly after lunch when he briefly attempted to implement a short-ball plan to Bharat who repeatedly pulled him over the short leg-side boundary.With Australia’s bowling potentially done for the series, it won’t be one their quicks will remember fondly. The combination of Starc, Green, Pat Cummins and Scott Boland have five wickets to show for their efforts. The pace-bowling average of 77.80 places it as the fourth-most expensive series for a cohort of Australian quicks. In comparison, India’s quicks have taken their 13 wickets at 33.53.After Green had completed what became his final spell, during which he had been dispatched for a brace of gorgeous boundaries by Kohli, Starc walked over to him on the outfield and offered a supportive arm around the shoulder. Many a bowler has had that treatment. After what happened in Delhi, Australia have held their tour together impressively, but the last day promises to be a final challenge and potentially without one of their best batters.

Cameron Bancroft tipped for Australia recall as WA juggernaut continues

The visitors needed less than six overs on the final day to secure a big victory

AAP24-Feb-2023Western Australia captain Sam Whiteman believes Cameron Bancroft is deserving of an international recall after the former Test opener turned in a player-of-the-match showing in a thumping win over Tasmania.The Sheffield Shield holders cruised to a 383-run victory at Bellerive Oval, with the hosts dismissed for just 120 early on the final day.With five wins from eight outings, the win leaves Western Australia closing in on hosting the season decider for the second year in a row.Bancroft made batting look easy in the second innings scoring 176 not out – more than Tasmania’s entire team managed in either innings.Bancroft’s fourth century of the summer took his tally well past Test squad member Peter Handscomb at the top of this season’s Shield run-scorer list.”Cameron Bancroft is having an amazing season, he is so confident and his game is in such a good place and I’m sure an Australian call-up wouldn’t be far away,” said Whiteman.Western Australia suffered a first defeat of the season last week in Adelaide, but their quality was on display over three-and-a-bit days in Hobart.After being sent in to bat, Western Australia overcame a challenging start to post 300 with wicketkeeper Josh Inglis scoring 116.”It is really pleasing after a disappointing week in Adelaide last week to bounce back like this,” Whiteman said.”After losing the toss and being asked to bat, it was a huge effort on day one and the bowlers were outstanding to take 20 wickets.”The in-form WA line-up will be bolstered by the early return of spinner Ashton Agar from India for their remaining matches – both at home – against Tasmania and Victoria.”The incentive is a home final and a big goal for us,” said Whiteman, with WA already guaranteed to host the upcoming One-Day Cup final.Tasmania lasted just 5.2 overs on day four with top-scorer Beau Webster (30) the last wicket to fall.Despite two defeats in their past three outings, Tasmania remain just one win behind second-placed Victoria.

Barcelona to ask La Liga to start next season with three straight away games as Hansi Flick's men decide date of long-awaited Camp Nou return

Barcelona will reportedly ask La Liga to start the next season with three straight away games as they prepare for a long-awaited Camp Nou return.

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  • Barcelona playing home games at Montjuic
  • Camp Nou is undergoing a massive renovation
  • Will be thrown open in September
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    According to after a prolonged stay at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Montjuic, the Catalan giants are keen to return to their spiritual home by mid-September. Hence, they are going to formally request La Liga to schedule their first three matches of the upcoming season away from home, so that they can ramp up their efforts for a partial return to the iconic Camp Nou stadium.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Although the club are targeting the fourth round of fixtures for their return, the stadium will not be fully completed at that point. Instead, Barcelona will resume playing at Camp Nou in a transitional phase, welcoming around 60,000 spectators – a little over half the venue’s future full capacity of 105,000.

    The structure will still be missing critical components, such as the third tier, and only minimal essential services will be available during this period. Fans will have to prepare for potential inconveniences: if it rains, everyone – including those in the presidential suite – will be exposed, as the full roofing will not be in place. Furthermore, many of the food and hospitality services will not be operational, and attendees will use temporary access routes.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    Barcelona will maintain the digital ticketing model currently used at Montjuic for the transitional period at Camp Nou. The club will offer a digital season pass, valid only for the 2025–26 campaign, which will not be linked to a fixed seat but instead to a designated seating zone. In a shift from traditional season ticket systems, fans will be required to confirm their attendance ahead of each match. This approach, designed for flexibility amid the ongoing renovations, allows the club to manage attendance and stadium logistics more effectively during the partial reopening.

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    WHAT NEXT?

    In recent weeks, the club has laid down a temporary turf at Camp Nou – not intended for long-term use, but to support the ground's substructure and improve drainage. The permanent pitch is expected to be installed at the end of June, with an estimated rooting period of six weeks. If all goes as planned, this will allow the playing surface to be ready by mid-August.

    Barcelona could use the annual Joan Gamper Trophy fixture as a test event to welcome fans back to the stadium. However, the decision is still pending. Should the pitch be deemed unfit for competitive action in August, the event might be postponed until after the league season starts – or, alternatively, it could be hosted abroad. Switzerland, the birthplace of the club’s founder Hans Gamper, has been mentioned as a potential venue.

'Umesh bhaiya told me, hit it, Rinku, don't think'

“Out of a hundred matches, you will win one like this,” says KKR captain Nitish Rana

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Apr-20232:01

Dasgupta: Only thing similar to Rinku was Brathwaite

With Kolkata Knight Riders needing 29 runs off the last over against Gujarat Titans on Sunday, Rinku Singh pulled off a win which his captain Nitish Rana described as one in a hundred. How did he do it? Rinku’s simple answer: “I just kept hitting.”Getting strike on the second ball of the final over after Umesh Yadav took a single off the first, Rinku hit five consecutive sixes off Yash Dayal to seal KKR’s chase of 205.Related

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“To be honest I was not thinking much. Just reacting to every ball,” Rinku said at the post-match presentation. “I never thought I would hit five sixes. I just kept hitting. I had the belief. And we won the match.”Rinku finished unbeaten on 48 off 21 deliveries, with 40 of those runs coming off the last seven balls he faced.”I had the inner belief that I can do it because I had also played [a similar] innings last year against Lucknow [Super Giants]. There also I had such a belief and today, too, I showed that belief. Rana told me: “belief (keep the belief, stay till the end),” he said.Umesh had similar words of advice for Rinku as he handed the strike over to the 25-year-old left-handed batter. ” also told me, ‘ (hit it, don’t think).”Making this comeback all the more stunning was the backdrop in which it came about. Venkatesh Iyer had set up Knight Riders’ chase with his 40-ball 83, but he fell to Alzarri Joseph in the 16th over. Rashid Khan got a hat-trick in the next over: Andre Russell fell for 1, and Sunil Narine and Shardul Thakur both fell for first-ball ducks.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“If you see, when we were bowling, we did well,” Rana said. “It was just the last two overs [where they gave away 45runs]. After bowling 18 good overs, we had two bad overs. The same thing happened while we were batting with the Rashid Khan over, which completely put us on the back foot. But credit goes to Rinku Singh. If we have two points today, it’s all because of Rinku Singh.”People have asked me why Rinku Singh doesn’t come in the top rankings and always plays smaller roles or secondary roles. Today, I would like to say, that if this is a secondary role, then you imagine what primary role he can play. And how important a player Rinku Singh is for me. In the last game, we saw that it was important to hold up one end and keep batting and he did that and today… If I were out there batting, then maybe I would have thought that I could chase it down, but in your heart you know what you are capable of and what you can’t do. I don’t have words to describe Rinku’s innings.”The reason Knight Riders even believed in the impossible was that they had seen the same man (almost) pull it off once before. “Rinku had done it last year as well, although we didn’t win the game then. But when he hit the second six [against Titans], the belief increased. Because Yash Dayal wasn’t being able to execute, so somewhere, I did believe,” Rana said. “As a captain, no matter what total we are chasing, it’s very important to keep faith, but to be honest, out of a hundred matches, you will win one like this.”3:02

Moody: Should have been only a ‘single messenger’ for Dayal in the last over

Venkatesh said that the win against the defending champions provided a valuable lesson – to not give up till the last ball. “It was a nail-biting finish and I’m extremely happy with the way we won the game. Our coach [Chandrakant Pandit] has always maintained that on any given day we can score 200. We saw that in the last game where only three players scored in double-figures and still we ended up scoring 200 and today was another example that our team will never give up and we can score 200 on any given day.”Obviously when the target is 200 you can’t have silent overs. You need boundaries and the momentum to go your way. Me and Nitish had a nice little partnership (100 off 55 for the third wicket) and that set the tone. Unfortunately we lost the way somewhere down the end but Lord Rinku saved us again.”To be honest, we still believed that we can win from here (Rashid’s hat-trick). Obviously he’s a world class bowler and he did what he has been doing all these years We still believed because Rinku was there. We felt that we could still win this if we play out this over, in three overs we can chase anything. That exactly happened. This teaches us a lesson that we should never give up till the last ball.”

Soft-spoken Towhid Hridoy has 'no regrets' after missing century on ODI debut

Towhid Hridoy’s dream run of 2023 continued into his ODI debut in Sylhet. His 92 in the first ODI against Ireland is a Bangladeshi debutant’s highest score in this format. There was an air of inevitability about his innings, firstly complementing in the 135-run stand with Shakib Al Hasan, and then cutting loose in the 80-run quickfire stand with his idol Mushfiqur Rahim.The soft-spoken Hridoy said that he wanted to maintain his aggressive intent, a mantra he developed since the disastrous BPL campaign from 2022. Hridoy said that he tried to learn from Shakib during their partnership, but his main focus was on himself.”I wanted to have the right intent,” Hridoy said after the game. “I didn’t try to bat to get settled at the crease. I tried to play each ball to its merit. It was a great feeling batting with Shakib . He is such an experienced batter. I was learning constantly from him. I really enjoyed it. He was giving me advice at times. When I thought I needed to something, I asked him. He was encouraging me, telling to bat as deep as possible.”Hridoy said that it was a great moment from him to bat with Mushfiqur in the latter part of the Bangladesh innings, since it was a moment from the wicketkeeper-batter’s career, 16 years ago, that inspired Hridoy in the first place.”In 2007 when Mushfiq won us the game against India in the World Cup, he took a stump from that game. When I saw that stump in person during a programme in Bogra, I was really inspired by it. I was very little. I dreamed from that day that I want to play for the national team. Today he said some inspiring words, like he wants me to serve Bangladesh cricket for a long time,” said Hridoy.He said that there’s no regret about not reaching the three-figure mark, when he could have been the first from Bangladesh to do so on ODI debut. “I give all praise to Allah. I could have been out early. I am happy with what I got. I always thank Allah. I got what I was in my Rizq (provision). Hopefully I will do better next time. I have no regrets. I hope those making their debuts later, hope they can do even better,” he said.Hridoy is one of the rare products of the BPL, a tournament that is known for organizing and administrative faults. He made 403 runs in this season’s BPL, batting in an aggressive way that no one expected him to. His batting was on the reasons Sylhet Strikers reached the tournament final this year.It was also Hridoy’s failure in the 2022 BPL that motivated him. Hridoy was on strike in the last ball of last year’s BPL final. He was having a woeful time with the bat, scoring runs at 97.84 strike-rate, averaging only 17. Against Comilla Victorians’ Shohidul Islam, Hridoy hit a half-volley to cover, just running a single as Fortune Barishal fell short by one run.”[My aggressive intent and fearless batting] started after playing badly in the 2022 BPL. I thought I should change myself since that tournament. I tried everything including changing my mentality. As much as possible. It was a bad season for me. I tried to get as far away from it.”I was in the HP (high performance) camp and played domestic cricket in the last 12 months. I spoke to [Khaled Mahmud] Sujon sir regularly. He knew me from my childhood. Shohel Islam sir was always there for me. I have spent the most time talking to him,” he said.Hridoy has had more heartbreak in his life. When he was only 12 years old, a man swindled him of a lot of money when he had come to Dhaka for the first time. It turned out that the academy he had intended to join didn’t exist at all. He nearly gave up the game before Mahmud, the former national captain and current BCB director, kept him in the straight and narrow to continue playing in the age-group levels.”I lost a lot when I went to that academy. I didn’t want to continue playing cricket. My father never supported me to play cricket. My parents don’t understand the game but whenever I used to be adamant with my mother, she would relent.”Around that time when I wanted to stop playing, Sujon sir really supported me. This is from my U16 days. He always gave me opportunities from playing in the Dhaka First Division league,” he said.Hridoy said that his parents were delighted with his inclusion in the Bangladesh team, particularly his mother who would often go around his father’s back to help Hridoy pursue his dream. “My parents are very happy, especially my mother. She always supported me. I was always pressured about my studies, but I didn’t really pursue it. I was focused on my cricket,” he said.

VIDEO: Ugly scenes as Chelsea & Real Betis fans involved in violent clashes ahead of Conference League final in Wroclaw – with police resorting to using pepper spray

Chelsea and Real Betis fans have clashed ahead of the Conference League final on Wednesday, with Polish police intervening with tear gas.

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  • Polish police break up Chelsea and Betis fans
  • Tear gas used
  • Fans threw chairs at each other
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Supporters of the two sides have been filmed in violent clashes ahead of the Conference League final in Wroclaw. Polish police were forced to intervene as chairs and other objects were thrown outside bars. There are said to have been scuffles prior to the police's involvement, given the increased presence of the authorities on the ground due to the game. They eventually resorted to using pepper spray.

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  • WHAT POLICE SAID

    A statement from the Provincial Police Headquarters in the city read: "The uniformed officers reacted immediately after the incident, which resulted in no further escalation of the conflict or negative behavior.

    "The fans scattered in different directions and currently the police officers of the criminal division are conducting activities aimed at identifying them.

    "The number of preventive and operational police forces and their saturation is so large in places where residents and sports fans gather or move around that everyone can feel safe. 

    "Please immediately notify the nearby Police or City Guard patrol of any incident, or call the emergency number 112. We are at your disposal and our priority is to ensure safety – says Senior Warrant Officer Łukasz Dutkowiak.

    "Foot patrols, monitoring from drones and helicopters, intensified activities on the streets and in key locations – the office enumerates and adds: – Firefighters from the Municipal Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Wrocław and rescuers are also ready to respond immediately, especially in the area of the stadium and all fan zones."

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    Chelsea and Betis face off on Wednesday. The Blues finished fourth in the Premier League, while Betis finished sixth in La Liga.

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